Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-08-05

In state of nature, with an animal so
susceptible to modifcations-so readily
accommodating itself TO extreme in
nusnces-uot many generations could
pass before varying types would be deyel-
oped. But when tn such surroundings
was added the powerful auxiliary of mans
Intelligent selection and provi6ent care,
the sheep rapidly assumed not only di
vergent types, but those subjected to
similar influences assumed such uniform
lty as 70 warrant their designation BY
Certain terms, which soon became ia
mlilar to those giving attention to sheep
husbandry
When hock holders we're so situated
that their readiest and most liberal in
come was to be had from the conmupi-
ties demanding meat rather than wool,
special attention was directed toward car
cass development; while on the other
hand men remote from large meat con-
sumlng popu!aticns-imp PEELED thereto
oy interest and necessits-gave es oecial
care to the culture and increase of those
animals producing the greatest percent
age OF wool IN proportion TO forage CON
sume6.
Thus early divergiug and assid 4ously
cultivated with differing paramount OBJ
1ect, the permahency of breeds was estah-
nehed- One of these for convenience and
as expressive of their es pecial adaptable
lily through general acquiescencr. was
designated mutton breed, a. distinguished
from the breed in which the fleece was
gwen more prominence.
As the science of breeding developed,
and com petition in mutton Production
became more intense by reason OF en-
danced prices of land and the fastidiuus-
ness OF buy ers who were able TO nav such
prices as were necessary 10 secure the
BEST article, carcass developmsnt began
TO manifest minor characteristics there
totore uunOtiCed or uncared for, and
soon there resulted fixed varieties within
the breeds. Especially was this notice
able IN localities most readily influenced
by the increasing demand for mutton
though the changes and improve
ments IN tieece production were encour-
aged by the desire and inability of the
peopie for Improvements in clothing
material.
NOT only we're variations noticeable in
the size of carcass in animals bred es-
peclally for meat production, 1t extend
ed to the length and character of the
covering of such animals, the disappear
ance of horns-once presumably the ad-
Junct OF their early ancestry the
color of extremities. until with some va
Elet1es black or brown faces or legs and
hornless polls became the passport of
recognition of pure breeding.
This hurried review serves to empha-
size the position so often reiterated IN
these columns, /. G.. that preference SO
frequently expressed III support of the
claims to superiority of any particular
type of sheep results more from educa-
tlon or interest. or Immediate surround,
lngs of the individual than from any es.
pecial distinguished merit in the type
Itself. 1t also suggests to those foes
owners in the agricultural states who are
feeling the pressure of competition en-.
! countered i'll either wool or mutton pro.
| ductIon as q speciality the fact that
neither element of profit can be ignored
as advancing expenditures besome insep.
arabic from flock management. Breeder:
OF mutton types can not afford to ignore
fleece values. Holders of lighter bodied
and heavier heeced types will be com.
| PEELED 10 recognize the Importance OF
carcass development. Each will find To-
calltles where 1t will continue TO be profit
able; but gradually the necessity for
making every edge cut" will be recog
nlzed and acted upon.
| American sheep hubandry ought no
| and can not be forced into the grooves by
| which sheep husbandry N other countries
| Is gagged. England, with territory con
siderably less than some of the states auC
population of more than half as grea
as that of the Uni ed States, has beer
| forced into extremities which. however
remote similar c-nnitions may be fol
| this country, nevertheless contain valu
| able lessons for American flock owners
| The most valuable of these is the demon
stratlon that sheep Industry can be sus
| tanned under pressure of high priced
| and low priced woods more extreme thar
| any to which flock owners here are likel,
| 10 be subjected. In this fact alone il
! enough encouragement to infuse vigo
| and courage among American flock own
ers sufficient to successfully tide over an,
| tenn Porary depression by which they are
overtaken. The sooner they all realize
! this the better.
again, Prof. S. is at fault in suppos
ing that clover has a longer tap roo
than COW peas. The fact is, that with US.
peas will send their tap roots much deep
| er. | had almost said twice as deep a.
| clover on the same land, and we coun
this good clover country, too. Upo1
very thin land we can not count for an,
certainty in getting q stand of clover
| but when we SOW a crop of peas, we arr
| absolutely certain OF something of croI
unless tbs whole soil is positively barren
| In that event you had better move out
| neither peas nor clover can hel p you auC
! you will find it i'm practicable to bring VI
| the land with stable manure alone Blu
If there is any strength in the subsoil
| peas will show it. You will find spIen
| did index 70 the nature of the subsoil O
any country, in the growth of timber
| If the trees are little, dwarfed, twist I'D NJ
things, black jack, scrub pines and thu
like, pass on and let that place severely
alone. do not know anything about
the nsture of the land about Fort Georg,
| Fla, with which 0. z. R., has to deot-tt
| whom Prof. Stewards advice was giVen
but if the timber in that section cores
| ponds to the description given above,
would advise him TO sell out az any price
and come to East Tennessee, where tn,
oaks grow from 4 to ) feet IN diameter
and single pine tree will often max,
| 1000 feet of inch lumber-yellow poplar
twice as much. 1t is cheaper to buy lanc
ready made, my friend, than to make i
by any system"